Most comfortable, detailed headphones under $300?
Oct 22, 2011 at 4:37 PM Post #2 of 34
I don't know anything about Grado's but HD 598's seem the best for your price range if you want good all around sound.
 
Oct 22, 2011 at 4:47 PM Post #3 of 34
If you don't have a problem with the driver's grill slightly touching your ear lobes i'd recommend ATH-AD900 and AKG K240mkII. The AT is fully open, very sensitive (sounds loud enough and decent out of a computer i.e) and has a spacious headstage and is midrange oriented- it emphasizes string instruments and vocals the most. the AKG is semi-open, more balanced sounding, bass has more presnce but looser in comparison ( though more accurate maybe). It can be quite dark (weak treble) without proper amplification, despite it's apparent low impedance at 55ohms.  Personally i'd prefer the AD900's brighter and airier presentation, depite some compromise in bass presence.
 
 
Oct 22, 2011 at 5:07 PM Post #4 of 34
Probably the DT-880. Only if you're not one of the 1% who find them uncomfortable. The cups are too shallow, but this is not a problem for most people.
 
Those things are detail monsters. They're are a fairly hard headphone to like. Maybe an acquired taste for some.
 
IMO the HD-598 doesn't have detail overkill until you recable it. Still better for detail than the HD-600 and HD-650 (yes, I said it. Sorry).
 
My favorite though is the Koss Pro DJ100 with M50 pads. Tons of detail and the extra money can be spent on a good portable amp.
 
Oct 22, 2011 at 5:35 PM Post #5 of 34
amarphael said:
If you don't have a problem with the driver's grill slightly touching your ear lobes i'd recommend ATH-AD900 and AKG K240mkII. The AT is fully open, very sensitive (sounds loud enough and decent out of a computer i.e) and has a spacious headstage and is midrange oriented- it emphasizes string instruments and vocals the most. the AKG is semi-open, more balanced sounding, bass has more presnce but looser in comparison ( though more accurate maybe). It can be quite dark (weak treble) without proper amplification, despite it's apparent low impedance at 55ohms.  Personally i'd prefer the AD900's brighter and airier presentation, depite some compromise in bass presence.
 
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Are the AD900's good for portable use as well?
 
Oct 22, 2011 at 11:52 PM Post #7 of 34
If you are looking for portable use, save yourself some trouble and go closed.
 
That said, I'd echo the DT880--supreme comfort, and incredible detail.
 
Depending on whether you want that "etched" sound, though, some Ultrasones might also make you happy.
 
Oct 22, 2011 at 11:54 PM Post #9 of 34


Quote:
joelpearce said:
If you are looking for portable use, save yourself some trouble and go closed.
 
That said, I'd echo the DT880--supreme comfort, and incredible detail.
 
Depending on whether you want that "etched" sound, though, some Ultrasones might also make you happy.
Click to expand...



What's the difference between the Pro's and the Premiums, and all of the different ohms?
 
Oct 23, 2011 at 12:59 AM Post #10 of 34
You might get lucky and snag a vintage Stax Lambda system for $300 or less, but that assumes that you have a speaker amp to feed the mere transformer box it'll likely come with...or even find a Lambda and a transformer box for $300 or less in the first place. (You can't just get the headphones by themselves since they're electrostatics.)
 
But if you're in the right place at the right time (like I was a month ago, that place being Head-Fi's own B/S/T section), you'd be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable and detailed headphone at that price point.
 
As for something more readily available...I don't have any experience with the AD900 or DT880 at all, but I can at least feel reasonably confident that the AD900 is a very comfortable headphone if the AD700 is anything to go by, and the DT880 was going to be my step up from the AD700 (given its reputation as a gaming headphone) until I started hearing about alternative options.
 
Oct 23, 2011 at 10:10 AM Post #11 of 34

 
Quote:
mdonova33 said:
Are the AD900's good for portable use as well?
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They have huge earcups and a are fully-open design, with no attenuation on both sides... if that doesn't concern you than yeah, plug 'em in any battery powered device and they'll sound great.
 
Quote:
mdonova33 said:
And are they comfortable?
Click to expand...

 
Except the shallow earcups, one of the most comfortable i've worn.
 
I do prefer them to the DT880 on both aspects, Though it's been awhile since i've heard the Beyers. They obviously have great detail, but the PRaT just wasn't there... Btw, If you can stretch it to around 350$ the Sony SA5000 are even better. One of the best out there IMO, regardless of price.
 
 
 
Oct 23, 2011 at 2:26 PM Post #15 of 34
Most comfy detail under $300 - DT880's

Detail and portable under $300 - DT1350's - I find them to be perfectly fine comfort wise.... but not as much as the 880s.
 
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